I keep realizing this every few months, and I’ve been calling myself out on it ever since I started working.

I now set priorities in one way only: Does this actually move the needle? At work. In workouts. In diet. In life.

For the past 3 months, I’ve been tracking it way more.

Every Sunday, I write down what I actually accomplished vs. what I was just busy with and cut anything that only felt “productive” (hate the word “productive”).

Doing this feels embarrassing at first.

Hours went into reorganizing, tweaking slides, rewriting emails, researching tools, and overplanning workouts. None of it moved the needle. None of it got me closer to the result I wanted.

That’s the truth: Busy doesn’t equal progress.

Most of what fills your day doesn’t count; it just feels like it does.

Let’s dive in.

Everyone talks about the 80/20 rule like it's about doing less.

It's not.

It's about ruthlessly identifying the 20% that actually produces results and having the discipline to kill everything else.

Most people know what moves the needle.

They just can't let go of the other 80% because it feels productive.

It looks like work. It keeps them busy. But busy is a disguise for avoiding the hard stuff.

The real work: the needle-moving work, is usually the thing you're procrastinating on right now.

Buffett's pilot, Mike Flint, once asked him for career advice.

Buffett told him to write down his top 25 career goals. Flint did.

Then Buffett said, "Now circle your top 5."

Flint circled them.

"Great," Buffett said. "You now have two lists. The 5 you circled, and the 20 you didn't."

Flint nodded. "So I'll work on the top 5, and fit in the other 20 when I have time."

Buffett stopped him.

"No. The 20 you didn't circle? Those are your 'avoid at all cost' list. They will steal time from what actually matters. Until you finish your top 5, those 20 are banned."

Most people think their problem is prioritization. It's not. It's elimination.

Open your task list right now.

For each item, ask: "If I only did this one thing this week, would it move me closer to my goal?"

If the answer is no, delete it.

If the answer is yes, block time for it today.

Most people have 30 tasks on their list.

Only 3 actually matter.

Find your 3. Do them first and fast.

Let the rest wait.

Fitness apps want you to log meals, steps, water intake, sleep quality, HRV, and recovery scores.

Some of it might make a difference, but I've noticed that trying to organize my life based on what an app suggests has made me more stressed.

Here's what does:

> Did you train today?
> Did you eat mostly whole foods?
> Did you sleep 7+ hours?

Three yes/no questions. Complexity makes you feel like you're doing something.

Simplicity gets results.

This changes when you’re training for something specific, like a marathon or a competition. Track everything when you are training for a goal.

Motion isn't progress.

You can be busy every day and make zero real progress toward what you want.

The question isn't "Am I working hard enough?" It's "Am I working on what actually moves the needle?"

If the work doesn't get you closer to the result, it doesn't count.

Cut it. Delegate it. Stop pretending it matters.

Your energy is finite. Chase your north star. Spend it on what moves the needle, or you'll spend it on nothing that does.